Daniel vs. the SMAD Department

[Names have been changed to protect people from embarrassment, except mine...I don't get embarrassed; SRMD = Some Random MediaArts Department]

Complaint (on behalf of the underdog)

Dear Dr. DepartmentHeadski,

I am a Computer Science and ISAT double major here at Our University, and after hearing some complaints from some friends of mine who felt unable to do anything about a current situation they are in, I was compelled to voice a complaint on their behalf.

I have a concern for several students in a SRMD 300Something class. They were recently assigned an assignment using Macromedia Flash. The students in question used the latest version of this software (Macromedia Flash 5.0) which is a significant advancement over the previous Flash 4.0. The professor in question (Dr. Stubbornarski) refuses to accept these students assignments, despite the fact that they have gone above and beyond the requirements of the assignment simply because it is not done in an outdated version of the software (Flash 4.0 cannot open these files, and therefore the projects would have to be redone from scratch). These students included a Flash 5.0 Installer that would allow the professor to view the Documents on any computer. Instead she is trying to make them redo the assignment on an out of date software, and on top of that, she is giving them only 2 days to complete this version (compared to a month from the original assignment date), and she is also marking their projects late and deducting points.

It seems dishearteningly obvious that the only reason she is doing this is that she does not know how to use the new software (she has not admitted this, but this is my primary assumption). There is NO acceptable reason for not knowing the latest software or for penalizing students that are learning the new software on their own. Granted that the SRMD labs are behind, as they have only Flash 4.0 on them (the Media Lab in HHS has Flash 5.0 so I know that Our University has a license), no person in the field who truly is a master of that content (as this professor should be), would be currently fluent in anything less than Flash 5.0.

It does not help the integrity and reputation of a media arts program to know that it is sending students out ill-prepared into the business world, who's only skills are on outdated software. Especially in the world of computer technology where change is more rapid than in any other field. Students cannot afford to be behind in any aspect, or they are not going to be able to compete for jobs after graduation. Flash 5.0 has been out for more than a year now, which is a millennium in terms of software revisions.

Professors have allowed, and even encouraged students to use the latest versions of software in many classes and this can be the only acceptable way to teach in the environment of rapidly changing software( Dr. CoolMofo, SRMD, and Dr. OtherCoolMofo, ISAT, who is a Multimedia Development specialist in the Computer Science Department and who is also familiar with software cycles.).

I take pride in going to Our University and I refuse to let its reputation be tarnished by not bringing to attention changes that will only benefit the students and the programs they participate in.

I encourage you to please talk with Dr. Stubbornarski in private, and ask for her reasoning in this matter. (Also if you are confident enough to question her abilities in keeping up with the latest version of Flash; this may or may not help). This letter is not intended to hurt feelings or make a public incident out of something that is easily fixed in a professional manner. It is my opinion that these students should be allowed to keep the projects that they turned in originally without penalty. Dr. Stubbornarski will know who these students are, and can contact them via e-mail. Please notify me if you have any questions or comments, and I would also like to know what I can do to help.

A concerned student,

Daniel Vander Kolk

Dr. DepartmentHeadski's Response

Dear Student,

The several students in the SRMD 300Something class were specifically told to create the project on Flash 4. As you so astutely pointed out that Flash 5 does have advantages over Flash 4. Therefore, the students who can't afford or have access to Flash 5 are at a disadvantage - thereby creating a grading inequity, i.e., not everyone has access to it - from a teacher's perspective the point is trying to keep the "playing field" level so that everyone has an equal chance at demonstrating his or her ability. If Flash 5 gives an edge to those students who can afford it, then that's not very equitable.

Also,each department at Our University has to purchase its own software - there is no Our University site license for the software - therefore some departments/colleges have more disposable income than others, i.e., they can upgrade more frequently than others.

The point here is not the latest greatest software version - because the next version is always on the horizon - the point here is the learning experience. Unfortunately, what you are suggesting is that only those people with the financial where with all are the ones who have the advantage.

I do know there are differences between the two software packages - but the issue here for the two students who are involved with this dilemma is they need to follow instructions - when it comes to all students having access to the same software, then it's unfair to those students who don't have vs. 5. Surely you can see that. Had the assignment not said use Flash 4.0 at the top of the assignment page, then I would agree the students are in a tough situation. Only one student, Cool Joe Jones, suggested rather verbally to the instructor that the instructor should accept his project. Department heads don't get involved between an instructor and a student.

Unfortunately you have been drug into this situation and I must suggest that you stick to your own major and college in these concerns - simply because not all colleges are equal at Our University. I don't believe the "integrity of Our University" has been harmed by this situation.Yes you can do something to help. You can donate around $1 million dollars to the Our University foundation to help the situation. If you believe that all colleges are equal at Our University, then come over to the Modular building and then walk around in the ISAT building and tell me what the differences are.

Have a nice day!

Disgruntled DepartmentHeadski

My Counter-Response (for the sake of argument...err...I mean "debate")

Dear Disgruntled DepartmentHeadski,

Not one to let sleeping dogs lie, or even awake ones, I now debate for the sake of argument.  The opinions expressed before and now, do not belong to either of the students that were involved in the complaint, but strictly my own. I agree that the ISAT/CS department is the most spoiled of the spoiled and I assure you that I have not contributed one dollar to it, as I am one of the brokest students on campus, and I rely completely on government funded financial aid.  I detect from the sarcasm in your response that your personal interest in this topic is ongoing and you have an unpicked bone with the way money is dished around this campus, and I wholeheartedly agree.  Which is a good point for both sides of this argument--life is not fair. In all practicality the best solution to this problem would have been to spread the extra money evenly over all of the programs here at Our University, and it's ridiculous to see how different "my side" of campus is compared to the rest.  

But since it is obvious that whoever is in charge of that money has no common sense, I propose an intermediate solution, and that is to let those students turn in their assignments as is.  If I need to demo them both to the professor I will do that, so she doesn't have to go through the trouble of the Flash 5.0 installation.  This saves everyone involved the most time and pain and everyone is happy, and those students can concentrate on finals and finishing up their semesters, as this cannot be the only class requiring their time.

All that aside I respond to your latest, as it is my nature to defend the underdog...

"The several students in the SRMD 300Something class were specifically told to create the project on Flash 4. As you so astutely pointed out that Flash 5 does have advantages over Flash 4."

If someone told you to drive to New York , but you had to take one of the wheels off of your vehicle, and all 25 of the other people did that, would you do it?   Limiting the one student's abilities because you are afraid that the other student's projects might not look so good or that the other student's feelings will be hurt is not fair to that talented student.  I'm sure that Dr. Stubbornarski can distinguish between a project that demonstrates the minimal features to achieve a particular grade, and to give  appropriate  grades to those who demonstrate extraordinary ability despite what version it is in.  This is the nature of life.  Not everyone is going to be the best in a subject, and the rest should not feel cheated if they cannot have the top grade.  At the same time, lowering the limits to make the less capable, feel more capable, is something done in Special Schools for the Differently Abled , not in an institution of higher learning.  People are in college because they are smart enough to be, not because everyone gets to go to college and be equals again, like in high school and elementary school.  You have a big heart, but this is not the place for playing equals.

"Therefore, the students who can't afford or have access to Flash 5 are at a disadvantage"

Those people at Macromedia were intelligent enough to see that no one would be able to learn new software unless they can sample and try out the new versions free of cost.  That is why you can download fully functional versions of the latest software for absolutely nothing.  And although the trial version lasts for only 30 days the Macromedia creators also had the foresight to plan for discounts for people in higher education. (Last time I checked you could get the entire Macromedia suite for $149 as a student, and  departments can purchase subscriptions to software titles; For Example: www.campustech.com located in Leesburg, VA). 

"Unfortunately, what you are suggesting is that only those people with the financial where with all are the ones who have the advantage."

Nowhere in my letter did I suggest, or mention anything about financially able students having an advantage.  I am probably one of the poorest students at this upper-middle-class infested University, and I made it a point to get the things I needed, this being one of them. 

"...when it comes to all students having access to the same software, then it's unfair to those students who don't have vs. 5."

I fail to see how having only Flash 4 is unfair. If so then does that mean that the whole SRMD department is unfair because ISAT/CS have access to Flash 5.0?  If the requirements can be met using Flash 4.0 then it is fair.  I've seen students penalized for not meeting requirements.  However, I've never experienced a student being penalized for going above and beyond the call of an assignment.  Usually those students who do this are given higher accolades or are encouraged to participate in Gifted and Talented-like programs.  Never are they told that their work is unfair, unacceptable, or otherwise.  And that is in basic elementary and high schools.  Our University is an institution of higher learning where things are less fair than before, and the playing field is less even, and in the real world even more unfair still, and even more uneven.  Don't under-prepare students by holding them back.  If you make college a place for less talented people it is no longer an institution of higher learning, it is an institution for regular learning, ie . High School II.

"Had the assignment not said use Flash 4.0 at the top of the assignment page, then I would agree the students are in a tough situation."

This can be argued as not true either.  The exact words are (it starts off) " Using Flash 4.0...", it then describes the gist of the assignment, then later lists other tasks under the heading:  Requirements.   Since using Flash 4.0 was not in the list of requirements, it is easy to argue that anything listed before that point is NOT a requirement, but merely suggested methods for doing the assignment.  Therefore they chose to not use the Flash 4.0 suggestion, and still met all of the listed requirements .

"Department heads don't get involved between an instructor and a student."

What do department heads do then, besides teach classes and organize an entire department's business?  It seems only natural that you have a position that carries some sort of policing action.  Otherwise the teachers would be teaching whatever they wanted to, and none of the same classes taught by different teachers would correlate, and students would learn different material within the same department.

"Unfortunately you have been drug into this situation and I must suggest that you stick to your own major and college in these concerns..."

I have not been "drug" into any situation.  I have volunteered my straight forward nature, and determination to defend what I think is right, despite the fact that those students were willing to give up, and succumb to something they still feel is wrong.  If I mind my own business and "stick to my own major" then I will be doing what so many people do in the face of adversity, and that is to just give up.  Fortunately for me, my convictions won't allow me to do so, often at personal expense, and I will put my moral character against anyone's on this planet.  I can march 100 people behind me as character witnesses, where most would be counting on fingers.

"You can donate around $1 million dollars to the Our University foundation to help the situation."

When I am capable of donating that kind of money, I will do so, but in the meantime letting two stressed out students turn in an assignment that is doing no one any harm, can be your donation to help the situation.

"If you believe that all colleges are equal at Our University then come over to the Modular building and then walk around in the ISAT building and tell me what the differences are."

Unfortunately I am reminded of the injustices here at Our University everyday, as I have completed my general education classes, and am doomed (blessed?) to spend the rest of my days on the campus on the hill.  I have taken social work classes and donated my skills to making websites for the Our University nursing department and several student clubs to take a break from those "mechanical" halls.  Perhaps that's why they joke that this is "Our University Inc.", where money talks and students are left scrambling to turn in assignments that meet all requirements set forth under a requirements section.  Business and bitterness has no bounds and holds no prejudice.

Thank you for your time, it was great to get a first hand perspective on the true depth of this problem.

A student, 

Daniel Vander Kolk